Label



. July 25, 1939. H. A. KRoPP LABEL Filed Sept. 20, 1938 Patented July25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in labels generally, and refersparticularly to labels adapted to be attached to bottles and othercontainers.

The main object of the invention is to provide a label having thereonthe usual type of description of the contents of the bottle or containerto which it is applied; and having thereon an area defined byperforations or rows of perforations and adapted to receive on the rearface thereof any one of a number of different insertions; which may takethe form of toasts, verses, riddles, and illustrations of hands in cardgames, etc.

Labels of this character are applied by machines operating atcomparatively high speed. Therefore, it is necessary to have the labelsconstructed in such manner as they will not tear apart while they arebeing applied to the bottles or containers. Accordingly, in labelsconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the perforationsare not continued to the edges of the labels, and thereby presentunperforated areas adjacent the edges which are sufficient to withstandthe strains of the machine in applying the labels and insure theapplication of the labels as a Whole to the Various containers.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of thisinvention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds,especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bottle having applied thereto alabel embodying my invention,

and illustrating a detachable portion thereof partly removed;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the form of the invention illustrated inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a modified form of the saidinvention.

Referring to the drawing, in which similar parts are designated by likenumerals:

The reference numeral 5 designates a label secured in the usual mannerto a bottle B. The label 5 comprises a main body portion 6, having therear surface provided with an adhesive, and separated from an ungummedtriangular portion I, defined by two rows of perforations 8 and 9,diverging from a point I0, located between the upper and lower edges IIand I2 of the label, to points I3 and I4 adjacent the said upper edgeII.

That part of the triangular portion I between the points I3 and I4 andthe upper edge I I forms a continuation integral with the main bodyportion 6. Preferably the points I3 and I4 are located about of an inchfrom the edge II. When the label is applied to a container, it will beobvious that a downward pressure of the finger along the upper edge ofthe triangular portion I will be sufficient to start the operation ofseparating the triangular portions I from the main body of the labelalong the converging lines 8 and 9. At the same time, this ungummedstrip between the points I3 and I4 and the edge II reinforces the mainbody of the label sufiiciently to prevent the machine from tearing thelabel apart during the operation of applying the labels to a container.

The front face of the label 5 is intended to receive the usual printedmatter descriptive of the contents of the bottle or other container towhich it is applied. The ungummed portion I is intended to receive datarelating to games, puzzles, songs, toasts, etc., which might be ofinterest to a customer. This form of label is preferably designed toreceive printed matter on the back of the ungummed portion, so as toform a coupon or redemption medium as a part of the bottle beveragepackages. This construction places such coupons or redemption mediums inthe hands of the consumers of bottle beverages in the same manner asloose coupons are enclosed inside the containers of food products; andenables the merchandising of bottle beverages in the same favorablemanner as other packaged food products are merchandised. Furthermore,having the coupons formed as tearout parts of the regular labels, makesit practically impossible for anyone to counterfeit the coupon, andprotects the users against fraud.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 differs from thatillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in that the inclined rows of perforationsI5 and I6 do not meet at a point but terminate at the lower ends in thepoints I1 and I8, spaced apart from the lower edge I9 of the label 20,sufiiciently to provide the reinforcement necessary to obviate thetearing of the label adjacent its lower edge. The upper ends of thelines of perforations I 5 and I6 terminate at the points 2| and 22spaced about of an inch from the upper edge 23 of the label.

The lines of perforations terminate at the lower end at points separatedfrom the lower edge of the label through a distance sufficient toprovide a reinforcing strip for the lower edge of the label to preventthe tearing of the label during the application thereof to a bottle orcontainer by the usual labelling machine.

It is not essential that all of the label outside the ungummed area becoated with adhesive. It is necessary only that the label outside thisarea be provided with adhesive sufiicient to apply the labels properlyto the containers in the manner common to Well known labelling machines.

Nulnerous variations may doubtless be devised by persons skilled in theart, Without departing from the principles of my invention. I,therefore, desire no limitations to be imposed on my invention, exceptsuch as are indicated in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In combination with a bottle, a label afiixed thereto having a portionintended to be torn out from the upper edge of said label while thebottle is resting on its bottom, said portion being in part definedbetween lines of weakness starting at points a short distance inwardlyof said upper edge and convergent toward the bottom edge of said label,said portion including also the laterally unweakened area between saidupper edge and an imaginary line joining said starting points, saidportion to be torn out being free from adhesive and devoid of anytransecting lines of weakness.

HENRY A. KROPP.

